The Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Ahmed Shiyam confirmed on Tuesday that crucial discussions are underway to reduce tariffs on Maldivian fish exports to the United Kingdom, directly countering claims that negotiations had been halted.
In a statement posted on social media, Minister Shiyam labeled claims that the government had ceased efforts to secure better UK trade access as completely false.
The controversy arose following parliamentary questioning directed at the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Mohamed Saeed regarding the status of a potential Maldives-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Minister Saeed used the session to deny allegations that the previous administration had achieved success on the FTA front, stating that Ministry records contained no documentation proving an agreement was set for implementation this year. This led to an opposition lawmaker claiming that Minister Saeed’s response had proven that the FTA efforts had been stopped entirely—a claim later denied by Minister Saeed.
Minister Shiyam asserted that negotiations to allow Maldivian fish to enter the UK market sustainably without tariffs are actively progressing, noting that the recent Presidential visit to the UK had helped further facilitate and accelerate these negotiations. He stressed that securing tariff reduction is essential for achieving better prices for Maldivian fishermen.
While defending the current government’s proactive stance, Minister Shiyam criticised the previous administration, insisting that the challenges faced by fishermen, including significant financial losses suffered by the state-owned fisheries company, were caused by naive measures taken by the previous government.
He specifically cited the decision made by the previous government to inflate fish prices that occurred after promises were made regarding an imminent UK free trade agreement. Minister Shiyam reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the fishing industry and ensuring fair business opportunities.